To find packing/organising for holidays stressful?

[PumpkinPie2016]

Or am I just weird?!

There is me, DH and DS (10 years and the most chilled out kid you could meet).
DH pulls his weight so it's not just left to me.

We fly a week today which I am so looking forward to (and I absolutely know we are so lucky to be able to go away) but getting packed/organised stresses me out for some reason!

I'm not even sure why - if we forget something we can either manage/buy it there - we're not going to Mars! But spreading everyone's stuff between the two cases (in case one goes missing), making sure essentials are in hand luggage etc just does my head in.

Then making sure the house is sorted and tidy.

Is it just me who is totally weird or does anyone else find the packing/organising hard work?

I have 4 DC. I don’t have a list as I think it would overwhelm me too, but what we do have is a specific ‘travel’ first aid kit and toiletries. These are only for travelling and are always ready to go.

I also have a kallax cube with travel
plugs and any travel related items in the airing cupboard.

The older children (9&7) pack their own clothes.

My husband is like this! He has a list going for a week before we go away. The first aid kit alone is a real project. It’s great for me as I’m useless. I went away just me and DS and forgot to take any knickers. Living with DH for 20 years has deskilled me lol.

Write a list, put things in list in a bag. If it takes you any more than an hour max you’re faffing. What on Earth could be stressful about this?

We tend to have very outdoorsy holidays, mountain climbing, hill walking etc. I have clothes just for holidays so when we get home I repack them after washing and refill any small bottles in my wash bag. Then all I need to put in last minute is medicines, a couple of books and my phone.

DH has always done his own packing, it has always been fairly successful. When the DC were small it was more complicated but those days are long gone.

While you're all complaining about packing some lightweight summer clothes in a suitcase for your lovely foreign holiday please spare a thought for us poor sods having to pack for a UK camping trip.
Winter clothes
Summer clothes
Waterproofs
Wellies
Cool box
Kitchen equipment
Beds
Bedding
Chairs
Tables
Tents
And so on and so on.

It's not so much the packing that's I don't like it's the making sure everyone has what they need in advance, especially the kids things like flip-flops and summer stuff they don't normally wear.

And I know when we get back we'll have little time to sort school shoes so that needs sorted before we go away.

I hate packing but I am responsible for myself and DC plus all the extra bits like plasters and suncream. I don't mind doing the clothes but hate all the extras. DH then packs for himself at the last minute which takes him around 5 minutes.

I also go into overdrive cleaning the house like we are about to receive royalty every single time, even when I say I won't.

As a few have said.... Lists & packing cubes. The cubes make splitting between 2 cases so much simpler. Also word to wise, just in case, as did happen to me... A change of clothes in your hand luggage. Plus I always pack a spare bra or 2 in the hand luggage. Did you know no one in Italy appearsis a 38F cup... I hunted everywhere!!!😂

It depends on the holiday. A city break I find more difficult. I could pack for a week of beach holiday in Spain in less than half an hour.
Also, MN will have us believe that all of Europe is full of sophisticated looking women in layered linen and that we will all stick out as hideous brits. This is nonsense in my experience.

I've never used them, but a packing cube seems like a very good idea. And I'd imagine it helps with storage the rest of the year!

I'd rather stay at home, so packing wouldn't be an issue